wilcqmb



E. WILCGIVIB.

BEARD OPENER FOR SPRING BEARI) NEEDLE KNITIING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 9.19I6.

LB@55?5 Patented June 3, 1919.

3 SHEETS- SHEET L @wfg 1H: Nanms Fermes cu ruovurna. asuma ron. n. c.

F. WELCUMB. BEARD OPENER FOR SPRING BEARD NEEDLE KMIUENG MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.9.1916

Lw@ Emmed June 3, 1919.

3 SHEETS--SHEET 2.

ifmzzenar;

F. WILCOMB.

` BEARD OPENER FOB SPRING BEARD NEEDLE KNH'TING MACHINES.

APFLICAHDN HLED sEPT.9.191e.

l @0595?5 o Patented June 3', 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. l

FRANK WILCOIVIB, 0F NORRISTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WILDMAN MFG. CO., 0F NORRISTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

BEARD-OPENER FOR SPRING-BEARD-NEEDLE KNITTING-MACHIN ES.

i Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 3, 1919.

Application filed September 9, 1916. Serial No. 119,270.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, FRANK lVILcoMB, a citizen of the United States, residing at Norristown, Pennsylvania, have invented certain rnew and useful Improvements in Beard-Openers for Spring-Beard-Needle Knitting-lVlachines, of which the following is a specification.

The invention is designed for use in so called direct fed springneedle machines which operate without yarn measuring sinkers and in which therefore the yarn is fed by laying it directly against the needle stems without sinking it between them. In spring beard needle machines it is well known that the beards of the needles after a period of use are liable to assume a partly closed position and thus will not; take the yarn when fed thereto directly Without the use of sinkers.

One object of my invention is to insure in a direct fed machine a proper open position of the needle beards at the moment they are in position to take the yarn.

Other objects of the invention will hereinafter appear.

The invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure l is a plan view of a knitting head embodying' my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the head.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the beard opener element.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the beard opener detached.

Fig. 5 is a view of the beard opener adapted for reciprocating machines and while this is shown in proper form for a straight bar machine it` is likewise adapted for use in circular machines by making it of curved form. Fig. 6 shows an opener for circular reciprocating machines. Fig. 7 is a detail view. In these drawings the spring beard needles l and the needle cylinder 2 are of substantially ordinary form. I show the invention in connection with an interior presser wheel 3, and an exterior presser ring 4', t-he presser wheel deflecting the needles outwardly from their normal working plane so that the beards are pressed against the eX- tcrior ring. The machine to which the inventionis-applied includes web holders 5, which are preferably pivotally mounted.

Though the invention is shown in connection with the devices just mentioned it will be understood that its use is not limited to the combination with such devices, as it may be employed in other combinations and this is true also in connection with other elements hereinafter mentioned.

The web holders are held in place by a ring 6 rest-ing on their top edges, the journals of the web holders beingsimply set in their bearings. The ring 6 is held down in place by a cap member 7 and this cap member rotates and carries with it the presser Wheel 3 and a suitable yarn guide device or finger a to supply the yarn to the needles in the Xed cylinder. The beard opener may assume different forms as to its detail structure and its mounting but in the particular form shown it includes a base ring 8, having an upstanding wall 9 at its inner edge which wall at its top is provided with a rib or enlargement l0, slightly mierhanging the outer side of said upstanding wall. This rib is rounded on the outer side or face and it is of such size or thickness that it will lie or engage between the vbeard and stem of the needle and will hold the beard open to its normal extent.

The front end ll of the rib is beveled or inclined on its outer and top faces and it merges into a knife edge l2 lying in advance of it, this knife edge being' provided by beveling the inclined edge of the upstanding wall. The knife edge is in the plane of the inner edge or face of the upstanding wall and is thus close tothe stein of the needle and from this sharp edge the bevel inclines outwardly and rearwardly or in the direction opposite to that of the movement of the opener. This knife edge lbegins at the upper surface of the base ring and extends upwardly to the beveled or inclined front end of the rib and thus the opener revolving in the direction of the arro-w Fig. l will present its knife edge to and will enter between the beard and stem and this action takes place on the needle which has risen to its elevated position to take the yarn. The needle having reached the beveled end of the substantially horizontal rib will pass along the Isaid rib with 'its beard on the outer side thereof and its stem on the inner side of the rib and the upstanding wall and the relation of the parts is suc-h that the rib will engage betwen the beard and stem at a point above the point of the beard, said beard point lyingopposite the upstanding Vwall on the outer side thereof and free from contact therewith. I prefer to so locate the rib that it will engage the beard where the swell occurs therein as shown at m. The rib therefore engages with the beard at a location above its point where the metal of the beard is thicker and wider and is therefore stiffer and the point is not subjected to wear.

l This rib maintains the beard in open position until in the retraction of the needle the point of the beard has passed over the yarn and has taken it and for this purpose the trailing end 13 of the rib is bent down or is provided with a downwardly inclined surface and furthermore in order to accommodate the gradually contracting space within the needle hook as the needle retracts, this end of the rib is turned inwardly or is beveled or inclined on its outer face at 13, this incline extending inwardly and rearwardly to the extreme end of the rib. This construction while accommodating the gradually contracting space within the needle head at the same time will maintain the beard in open position until it rides oft' of the trailing edge of the rib at which time the needle will have taken the yarn. This yarn is fed as indicated through a linger or eye a, carried by the cap member or by means otherwise supported. The upstanding wall of the opener is cut away under the rib, the space thus afforded eX- tending from the trailing end ofthe rib forwardly to the point 15 and the base ring is also cut away as indicated at 1G and through the space thus provided the yarn is fed to the needles, this yarn being directed by the corner where the upstanding wall at the point 15 meets the horizontal base flange or ring of the opener member. This construction enables the yarn to be laid against the stem of the needles while the said needles with their beards are still held open by the rib of the opener, thus positioning the yarn in the safest position to be taken by the wide open beards as the needle descends.

In advance of the knife edge 12 the base ring is provided with a cam edge 17 which straightens up any bent needles by coming against their stems.

Immediately in rear of the beard opener a presser wheel 3 is located, and the yarn after leaving the guiding surface or corner of the opener is received on the teeth of said wheel which project between the needles, and thus the yarn is supported with suiicient divisional space for pressing the beard between the new yarn and the fabric, The toothed` construction of the wheel not only affords supporting means for the new yarn, but also serves to aline and properly space bent needles, and the bottoms of the spaces between the teeth by contacting with they backs of the needles deflectthem outwardly for pressing their beards against the exterior presser ring 4.

The base ring 8 of the beard opener rests upon the top of the presser ring 4, which surrounds the needle row. This ring or flange fits within the ring or plate 6 which holds the web holders in their pivot bearings, and the base ring as well as the ring G are held down by the overlying cap 'member 7. The opener is thus held from displacement in all directions, and it is free to rotate on top of the presser ring and within the ring 6. It is driven by a connection 19 pivoted to the cap at 20 and clamped in place at 21. The arm is forked at 2:2 and engages a pin on the base ring of the opener, and by adjusting this connection the beard opener can be set in different positions in relation to the yarn feed and to the other coperating parts to secure the desired effects.

In Fig. 1 the position of the needles are indicated by the brackets and the terms all up, starting down, start of dwell-yarn taken, &c.

It will be understood that the beard opener is applicable to straight bar machines as well as circular machines, and I show in Fig. 5 a double arrangement of the beard opener 10X adapted to operate in either direction according to the reciprocating' stroke of the machine.

In a stocking machine of the circular type, where one of the members, needle cylinder or cam carrier, reciprocates the needle beard opener can alsov be used, it being of double form in this instance also, that is, with an opener operating on each reciprocation. In the double form of beard opener for reciprocating machines the pressure wheel would be located in the space between the two beard opener members.

IVith my improvement needles which are defective by reason of their beards being partly closed will be rendered as safe in operation as new needles because their beards 'ill be opened as far as the beards of new needles at the time that they take tie yarn.

Instead of using a beard opener with its surfaces beveled, said opener may be bent or otherwise shaped to the desired form.

Thile the base of the beard opener is shown in the form of a ring the invention is not limited in this respect as the base may be of other forms. A

The invention may be applied either to the type of machine in which the needle cylinder rotates or to the type having a rotary needle cam carrier. It will be observed that the yarn is fed exterior to the beard opener. There is no guide eye or channel through the opener in which the yarn lies or must pass, nor does the yarn pass between the opener and the needle, and therefore t-he 'opener will notinterfere with the passage 0f lumps, knots or other imperfections in or on the yarn.

This beard opener used in connection with reesara the toothed presser wheelcoacts in the following particulars. As the yarn is fed to the needles bent around the circle it is supported by the shelf of the beard opener at 16, therefore the yarn cannot be deflected by the friction of the needle atfthatpoint. The toothed presser wheel receives and supports the yarn almost immediately following the shelf of the beard opener. The shelf vserves to direct the yarn onto the top surface of the toothed presser wheel which is set slightly lower' than theV shelf of the beard opener. In thisparticular the two devices are coacting. They also coactV as the needle beard opener holds the circle of needles true so long as the opener is in contact with the needles. Almost immediately after the needles have passed the tail end of the needle opener the toothed wheel engages the needles and forces them out of the perpendicular still further insuring the seizure of the yarn by the needle beard as the yarn is lying against the stem of the needle.

Some of the features disclosed herein form the subject matter of Letters Patent granted to ine October 23rd, 1917, Nos. LQHQGS; 1,244,269, and 1,244,270.

I claim:

1. In combination with spring beard needles, a beard opener comprising an imperforate member to engage between the beard and stem, and open partly closed beards, and a yarn directing element exterior to said beard opener, said element having a laterally directed Vyarn receiving portion against which the yarn may be laid without threading, substantially as described.

2. In combination with spring beard needles, an imperforate beard opener comprising a. member to engage between the beard and stem and open partly closedbeards, a yarn directing element below the said meniber, and below the Vpoint of the beard, and exterior to the ysaid opener, said yarn directing element having a laterally directed yarn receiving surface against which the yarn may be laid without threading, Vsaid engaging member overhanging the said element, substantially asv described.

3. In combination with afspring beard needle, a beard opener comprising a member to engage between the beard and steniand at a point above the lower end of the beard, and a yarn directing element exterior to said member and below the said member and overhung thereby, substantially as described.

1L. In combination with a spring beard needle, a beard opener'comprisinga member said point free from contact from any adjacent part, and means for directing the` yarn to the stem in a plane below that of said beard and said member and exterior to the latter, substantially as described.

5'. In combination with spring beard needles7 a beard opener comprising a rib like member to engage between the beard and stein at a position above the point of the beard leaving the point free, a vertical supporting wall extending down from the inner side of said rib close to the needle stems and in relatioli to which the rib overhangs, and av horizontal shelf extending outward from said vertical wall, said wall and shelf directing the yarn te be taken by the beard, substantially as described.

6. In combination with spring beard needles, a beard opener comprising a rib-like member to engage between the beard and stem at a position above the point of the beard, a vertical supporting wall extending down from the inner side of said rib close to the needle stems, said wall being cut away back from the trailing end of the rib leaving a space under the rib for the passage of the yarn to lie against the needle stem, and a horizontal shelf extending outward Vfreni said vertical wall, said wall and shelf directing'the yarn to be taken by the beard, substantially as described.

7. In combination with spring beard needles, a beard opener comprising a rib-like member to engage between the beard and stein at a position above the point of the beard, a vertical supporting wall extending down from the inner side of said rib close to the needle stems, and a horizontal shelf extending outward from said vertical wall, said wall and shelf directing the yarn to be ta ren by the beard, said vertical vall and horizontal shelf being cut away back from the trailing edge of the rib to allow the yarn to pass-below the said rib to the needles, substantially as described.

8. In combination spring beard needles, an elongated rib-like member to engage and lie between the beards and stems of a pla- 'ality of needles at one time. said rib extending to the point where the retracting needle passes its beard over the yarn, said rib at said point leaving a space beneath it for the passage of the yarn to the needle stem, the yain being fed exterior to the said rib and through said space below the rib.

9. In combination with spring beard needles, a Vneedle beard opener comprising a riblilre member to engage between the needle beard and stem at a point above the point ofthe beard, a vertical arm or wall support for the rib located back from the outside edge of the rib and out of the path of the4 points of the beards as opened by the rib to avoid contact withY the beard points andV means fordirecting the yarn to the needle stems exterior to the said rib, substantially as described.

10. In combination with spring beard needles,a needle beard opener comprisingan elongated rib-like member horizontally disposed and having a front end tapered laterally to facilitate entrance between the beard and stem, and means for guiding the yarn exterior to the said opener and beneath the same, substantially as described.

11. In combination in a spring beard needle knitting machine, spring beard needles, a beard opener to ent-er between the beard and stem and means for directing the yarn to the needle stem in a plane lower downV than the plane in which the opener lies, said opener laterally overhanging the said yarn directing means and having its trailing end also over-hanging said means, substantially as described. y

12. In combination in a spring beard needle knitting machine, spring beard needles, a beard opener, an upstanding wall supporting the same but leaving' a space beneath the opener at its trailing end for the passage of the yarn to the needles, and means for guiding the yarn to and through the said space, to be taken by the needle beard whilefheld open by said opener, said guide means being exterior to the opener, substantially as described.

1.5. In combination in a spring beard needle knitting machine, spring beard needles, a. beard opener to enter between the beard and stem and having an upstanding wall supporting the opener which extends beyond the wall at its tail end, leaving a space under it for the passage of the yarn, and a yarn guide for directing the yarn exterior to the opener, against the face of said wall and throughsaid space, substantially as described.

14. In combination spring beard needles, a beard opener comprising ay horizontally disposed rib-like member to lie between the beard and the needle stem, means engaging the iront oi the needle stems below their beards for alining the needles in advance or' said opener member to insure entrance of the "opener between the stems and beards, and

means for feeding the yarn exterior to the said opener member, substantially as described.

15. In combination spring beard needles, a beard opener comprising a member to lie between the beard and the needle stem, means for alining the needles in advance or said opener member to insure entrance of the latter between the beards and stem, and means for feeding the yarn exterior to the said opener member, said 'alining means consisting of a cam edge against which the front of the needle stem bears at a point below the beard, substantially as described.

16. In combination spring beard needles, a beard opener comprising a plurality of horizontally disposed rib-like members each having a tapered end adapted to enter between the beard and stem and engaging the beards above their points, one of said members being active when the machine moves in one direction and the other when the machine moves in the opposite direction, said members having a space between them to allow the needles to draw down'in said space, substantially as described.

17. In combination spring `beard needles, a beard opener comprising a plurality of members each adapted to enter between the beard and stem, one of said members being active when the machine moves in one direction and the other when the machine moves in the opposite direction, said members having a space between them to allow the needles to draw down in said space, the said members having their front ends tapered to facilitate entrance between the needle beard and stem, substantially as described.

18. In combination spring beard needles, a beard opener comprising a plurality of members, each adapted to enter between the beard and stem, .one of said members being active when the machine moves in one direction and the other when the machine moves in the opposite direction, said members having a space between them to allow the needles to draw down in said space, and a cam in advance of each of the said members to aline defective needles, substantially as described.

19. In combination spring beard needles, a ring having an upstanding portion or wall with a rib at the upper edge of the same overhanging the outer face of said wall, said ring being located outside the needle row, and said rib being adapted to enter between the needle beard and stem, said wall and ring being cut away under the rib and back from the trailing end thereof to permit the passage of the yarn, substantially as described.

20. In combination spring beard needles, a ring having an upstanding portion or wall with a rib at the upper edge of the same overhanging the outer face of said wall, said ring being located outside the needle row, and said rib being adapted to enter between the needle beard and stem, said wall and ring being cut away under the rib and back from the trailing end thereoi' to permit the passage of the yarn, and cam means on the rib in advance of the rib for alining the needles, substantially as de- 22. In combination spring beard needles,

an opener for needle beards to enter between the beard and stem, said member having a. downwardly and inwardly inclined surface at its trailing end to maintain contact with the beard above its point and control of the beard while the needle is retracting, and until the beard takes the yarn, and means for guiding the yarn exterior of the said member, substantially as described.

28. In `combination spring beard needles, an opener for needle beards consisting of a rib-like member to engage between the beard and stem at a. point above the point of the beard leaving said point free from lateral pressure and an inclined knife edge at the front end of the rib-like opener' and inclining downwardly and forwardly therefrom to enter between the beard and stem, substantially as described.

Q4. In combination, independently oper'- ated spring beard needles, a. beard opener having an inclined portion arranged inthe path o-f the rising needles to enter between the beard and stem, said opener having a substantially horizontal extension to lie between the beard and stem at a point above the point of the beard leaving said beard point free, said extension being tapered at its trailing end to maintain the beard open while the needle is retracting and until it takes the yarn, and means for guiding the yarn exterior to said opener', substantially as described.

25. In combination spring beard needles, a beard opener having abase with an upstanding wall at its inner part h-aving an overhanging rib on the outer side of said wall, the wall at the fro-nt end of the rib being beveled to a knife edge, and a cam in advance of the knife edge to line up bent needles, and means for feeding the yarn against the outer side of said wall and below the rib, substantially as described.

26. In combination spring beard needles, and a beard opener comprising a ring base portion with the opener extending up therefrom, said ring being removably seated outside the needle cylinder, and a cap member for holding the ring with the opener in place, said cap member with the ring and the needle cylinder being relatively movable, substantially as described.

27. In combination spring beard needles, a needle cylinder, a presser device inside the needle row, an exterior presser ring, a beard opener seated on the said presser ring, and means for holding said beard opener in place, substantially as described.

28. In combination spring beard needles, a needle cylinder, a presser inside the needle row, an exterior presser ring, web holders, a ring or plate for holding the web holders in place, a beard opener comprising a base ring and a member to engage between the beards and stems of the needles, said base ring fitting within the web holder ring and resting on the presser ring, and means for holding the base ring down in place, substantially as described.

29. In combination in a lmittingmachine, a fixed needle cylinder, spring beard needles, an interior presser device, a stationary exterior presser ring, a beard opening device seated and rotatable on the said presser ring, and a member' for holding the beard opening device in place, said member consisting of a revolving cap, and a connection between said cap and the interior presser device and beard opener device, substantially as described.

Y 30. In combination in a knitting machine, a fixed needle cylinder, spring beard needles, an interior presser device, a stationary exterior presser ring, a beard opening device seated and rotatable on the said presser ring, and a member for holding the beard opening device in place, said member consisting of a revolving cap, and a connection between said cap and the interior presser device and beard opener device, said connection to the beard opener device being adjustable to set the same in proper position relative to the yarn feed, substantially as described.

31. In combination in a spring beard needle knitting machine, a beard opener relatively traveling with respect to the needles, and between the beards and stems, a presser device at the front of the needle row against which the beards are pressed when the needles are deflected forwardly and a presser wheel engaging the backs of the needles to deflect them forwardly, said presser wheel having teeth forming supporting means for the new yarn to provide space for pressinO.

32. In combination in a spring beard needle knitting machine, a beard opener relatively traveling with respect to the needles, and between the beards and stems, a presser device at the front of the needle row against which the beards are pressed when the needles are deflected forwardly and a presser wheel engaging the backs of the needles to deflect them forwardly, said presser wheel having teeth forming supporting means for the new yarn to provide space for pressing, said beard opener lying in advance of the presser wheel and serving to aline bent needles, substantially as described.

33. In combination in a spring beard needle knitting machine, a beard opener relatively traveling with respect to the needles and between the beards and stems, a presser device at the front of the needle row, against which the beards are pressed when the needles are deflected forwardly and a presser wheel engaging the backs of the needles to deect them forwardly, said presser wheel having teeth forming supporting means for the new yarn to provide space for pressing, means for feeding the yarn eX- terior to the said beard opener, a part of which serves to direct the yarn to the upper surface of the teeth of the presser wheel.

' 34. In combination in aV spring beard needle knitting machine, a beard opener relatively traveling with respect to l'the needles and between the beards and stems, a presser device at the front of the needle row -against which the beards are pressed when the .needles vare deflected forwardly and a presser wheel engaging the backs of the needles to deflect them forwardly, said presser wheel having teeth forming supporting means for the new yarn to provide space for pressing, means for feeding the yarn eX- terior to the said beard opener, a part of which serves to direct the yarn to the upper surface of the teeth of `thej presser wheel,

` said beard opener comprising an upstanding wall and a shelf at the lower part thereof, the yarn being fed vto the said parts and thereby directed to the upper surface of the teeth of the presser wheel, substantially as described. f

35. In combination, spring beard needles, a beard opener comprising a memberV to enter between the beard and the needle stem, and at a point above the point of the beard leaving said beard free from contact therewith and a Vertical wall below the said opener member lying with its front face nearer the needle stem 'than the front face of the opener and adapted to have the yarn lie thereagainst on its way to the stein of the needle, -substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature.

FRANK WILCOMB.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner ofrlatents, Washington, D. C. 

